The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-07-20
BEFORE THE CAMERA.
A Washington Photographer Talks
''Slop" in Conn ection With Prom
ineat People

''SlOp" in Conn ection With Prom
inent People.
New York Commercial Advertised
A noted photographer in Washington
tells some interesting stories about the
bearing of some of cur leading statesmen
before the camera.
Il have posed all the members of the
cabinent and most of the senators and con-
gressmen," said he. "Some of them
fell into position with all the grace
of professional actors, bat the major
ity give me great deal of trouble. sn-
ator Edmunds is one of the worst sub
Jects have ever had on account of the ex-
preston he invariably assumes at the CRIT
ical moment. He will look pleasant while
being posed, smile when told be is all
right and beam on the black cloth while
the artist is making his preparations Bat
the moment the cloth is removed a fisrcs
look comes into his eye, his muscles grow
rigid, and his whole appearance is that of
Sepoy about to be fred from a cannon.
When 4eqoested tO tat e on IN IRE yi=as =,
expression he complies with a smu :, gaich
lasts till the camera is again uncovered.
Then sgEin comes that farce "rIl.die il.
catch plC assnt look on bis face
'Mr. Blaine is mOiel sitter He fails
INFO position grace fully aud needs lttt!s
aid from the poser. He is not e5>ii,
pleased, however. He is II Dho ;ogra Ohic
critic OF the kesDest Kind aud can dete;
the slightest faults ia the proofs SDns
times - " taken half d)z ,ns sittinSs o.
satisfy him.
Senator EVarts does not look,.well in his
photographs, because he insists on posing
himself. He has large nose, you know
and his chief anxiety is to conceal it as
much as possible. Since a generous lofty
nose can not, by any effort of art be trans
formed into a delicate Grecian feature,
the senator is never satisfied with his
photographs.
Senator Sherman takes poor picture
because be assumes smile which is foreign
to his features. If he would only look
grim and stern as he does outside the pho
tograph gallery, bis face would be impress
i've on pasteboard, even il il could not be
called beautiful. But the Senator tries to
look sweetly benignant, and the result is al
expression bordering on the id;otic. This
is invariably the case with stern men who
try to smile before the camera.
Secretary Whitney has had but one set
of photographs taken since he has been at
the head of the navy department, and those
most prominent men at the capital, he
does not care TO see his face in store win.
dows. Curiously enough, too, his pictures
are the handsomest we have taken of gov
eminent officials He is the only instance
know of in Washington public life of
good looks and modesty going hand in
hand.
Secretary Lamar is fond of assuming a
poetic, ethereal expression, which comes
near to utter blankness. To add to the i'm
preston that he is poet far above thoughts
of earth, he rumples his hair and lets it fall
so as to almost cover his ears. He is fond
of seeing his face on pssteboard, and dis
tributes his pictures literally.
Senator Hoar takes well. He sits down,
clasps his chubby hands, and let's his face
resolve itself into sunbeams. He has the
sweetest smile have ever seen on the face
of public man. He n ever asks for proofs
being satisfied from experience that the
camera does him justice because he does
Justice to the camera
Senator Sewell is rather troublesome.
He always wants the positionist to pose him
in such a way that the little bald spot on
his head can be concealed. l have tried il
and in vain; The only way it could be
accomplished would be for the Senator to
place his face horizontally to the ceiling,
but when told him this he got angry.
Senator Fry looks in his picture onite
the heavy villain. he seems downright
blood-thiTsty when he faces the camera and
no amount of persuasion can soften his
features | have tried funny Stories hum
orous suggestions, and little practical
jokes-but TO no purp )se. He still looked
as if it was his dearest wish to be let loose
among his fellow citizens with derriDger.
Senator Wade Hampton is particular as
to one point only-his handsome Dan
dreeIies' When we show him proof, be
glsnceS at once at hi side face adorn-
ments, seems TO count all the hairs, and il
be finds noue missing he has no cri icism
to Offer. He passes many iniDurss ton1ly
arranging his whiskers before taking the
chair.
Senator Beck takes, psrhaOs the hest
picture in the Senate His face is strong
and handsome, his bearing manly aud
graceful, and his iron-gray curly locks are
things of beauty. And isn't he proud OF
them, and doesn't he handle them tendsr-
ly? He knows that his photograph is
something to be admired, so be does not
by any means object to having it in the
widows for sale. He gives us call regular
ly every three months
SIT is pleasure to pose Mr.. Randall. He
has natural grace and perfect command of
bis features. He can assume any express
sion, unterrifed by the instrumen before
him. Like Senator Hoar, he never has to
come back for a second sitting.
"Mr. Morrison is quite the opposite. His
expression when in the chair would excite
the laughter Of any looker-on except a
'positionist.' If the expression were trans
lated into words, it would read something
like this: I've got my eye on you, my
man, and il you make a movement, will
send bullet through your heart.
Speaker Carlisle is a good subject. he
looks serious and natural, just as he does
at his desk in the House OF Representa-